Video: Choosing file formats

Well, if you are thinking about long- term storage of your images, then you are probably wondering about file format. So I am going to review some of the basic formats with you right now to give you a feel as to which direction to go. If you shoot JPEG, then JPEG is a good format for you to use going forward. Remember, cameras basically capture in both JPEG and RAW files. I'll talk about RAW files in a moment, but right now let's focus on JPEG. JPEGs are compact, and as you can see, we'll take a look at this image right here; it's 6.7 megabytes.

In this course, photographer Derrick Story teaches the concepts and techniques behind efficient photo management and backup, which becomes increasingly important as a photo collection grows. The course begins by showing how to transfer and organize photos "by hand"—that is, by copying them from a memory card to a hard drive without using software. In the second portion of the course, discover how to take advantage of the photo-management features provided by programs such as Lightroom and Aperture, by assigning descriptive keywords, by giving photos ratings and color-coded labels, and how smart album features can automatically collect photos that meet certain criteria.

The course concludes with a look at aspects of a good backup and archival strategy, ranging from the best file format for long-term backup to the best hardware options for offline storage.

Choosing file formats

Well, if you are thinking about long- term storage of your images, then you areprobably wondering about file format.So I am going to review some of the basic formats with you right now to give youa feel as to which direction to go.If you shoot JPEG, then JPEG is a good format for you to use going forward.Remember, cameras basically capture in both JPEG and RAW files. I'll talk aboutRAW files in a moment, but right now let's focus on JPEG.JPEGs are compact, and as you can see, we'll take a look at this image right here;it's 6.7 megabytes.

You'll see that the other files will be much larger than that. And any loss ofdata has already happened when you captured the shot.So the JPEG that you get out of the camera; the main thing that you want to dois just preserve that information.Now, in all honesty, the best way to do that is to use a nondestructive digitalasset manager; either Lightroom or Aperture. Protect your JPEGs, because whathappens is when you import those JPEGs into those applications, it protects themaster, and then you are working with derivatives within the application, butyou don't even know it.

It's just taking care of all that for you.You just double-click on that image, you edit, you do whatever you want, theapplication handles all of the protection, and you just get to work with your image.So I think JPEGs are a fantastic way to go in digital asset managers.Remember, the big downside is, image editing; if you like to do a lot ofimage editing, you don't have as much information to work with, with a JPEG compared to RAW.So anyway, so digital asset managers: fantastic.If you don't use a digital asset manager, and you shoot JPEG, then remember touse Save As when you do your image editing so that you create a second versionand you don't destruct your original. All right!So that's the JPEG stuff right there.

Let's talk about RAW for a second.This is a Canon RAW file, so .CR2. Nikon would be different; .NEF, and so on and so forth.RAW file captures all the information that your camera is able to retain, and younotice that's a little bit bigger here.It's almost 25 megabytes.The concern that some people have with RAW files is that over time themanufacturers might not continue to support them, because they're aproprietary format.We don't know if that's true or not.That's just a concern that some folks have.

Those that have that concern deeply consider, often, the DNG format. Here's DNG, right here.It's an open standard originated by Adobe, and it retains all the goodness ofyour RAW file, but moves it into a standard that's open, which means that itshould be supported basically forever.And as a bonus, you get a little bit of file size savings here, which is always fun.That adds up over time.Now, generally speaking, if DNG appeals to you, I recommend the Adobe workflows;the Photoshop Bridge workflow, or the Lightroom workflow, because they are reallygeared for working in DNG.

Aperture can open a DNG file, and you can edit it and everything, but AdobeLightroom and Photoshop are really -- they are the DNG specialists should we say.So that is something for you to consider.I think you are fine keeping your RAW files.I don't anticipate manufacturers discontinuing their support, but you neverknow, and if you're worried about that, take a look at DNG.Now, I am going to talk about Photoshop and TIF; they're very similar in nature.The big thing is they are nondestructive in the sense that you can open themand edit them, and you don't lose file quality.

The bad news is, look at the file size.These are older formats.They have a few more hooks in them for doing cool things like layers and soforth, and therefore, the file size is bigger.They are useful in a sense that if you start out with a destructive format, suchas JPEG, a lossy format, and you want to create a second version of it thatisn't lossy, then you might want to look at Photoshop files or TIF files. Onlyfor your best shots, though.Don't convert everything to a Photoshop or TIF file, because it just eats uptoo much disk space.

So generally speaking, these are for those files that you want to dosomething special with.Bottom line is, if you shoot JPEGs, I highly recommend using a digital assetmanager that will handle all the derivative work for you, and if you shoot RAWfiles, I think you are in pretty good shape storing your RAW files, but if youare worried about it, take a look at DNG.

There are currently no FAQs about Organizing and Archiving Digital Photos.

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